Today the big bad news, again, is the failure of the Australian Government to do something decisive on climate change. The Melbourne Age reports that ‘State emission cuts ‘futile’ and would aid polluters’.
Our CEO, Steve Shallhorn writes in the Sydney Morning Herald, where he asks ‘Why is the Federal Government failing to live up to its promise to do something credible on climate change?‘
Steve writes, “The recent essay by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, in The Monthly gives a solid clue to the general problem: old school political economy. It focused on ideological division between his party and the Opposition, and spoke to the past, not the future.
Symptomatic of the problem is the Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson. In cabinet because of clan loyalties, he is as “carbon captured” as the Howard government’s resources minister, Ian Macfarlane.”
Steve then tells it as it is and ramps up the climate debate to a new level: “Rudd needs to compel Ferguson to work constructively to create a just transition from coal to renewable energy or ask for his resignation.”
Also in the Age we read ACTU President Sharan Burrow calling for 800,000 green jobs in 15 years as a response to climate change and a solution to the recession. Arrogantly, coal giant and Anvil Hill mine owner Xstrata declined to comment for this story. Amazingly, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson is cited, telling the mining industry to lobby harder for a sweeter deal in CPRS.The climate movement’s blockade of Newcastle Harbour on the weekend got some good coverage in the Newcastle Herald and on ABC Radio over the weekend.
Be alert and alarmed as you cruise the interweb, as the US coal industry has launched a $20million online greenwash advertising push, according to Reality.org. Their blog and supporters email have all theinformation you need to push back.
Coal Vs. climate – the lines are drawn!
